Locomotive cab curtain



Feb. 25, 1936. J, E. HOOPER 2,032,068

LOCOMOT IVE CAB CURTAIN Filed Nov. 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb- 25,w35- J. E. HooPr-:R

LOCOMO'TIVE CAB CURTAIN Filed NOV. 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 PatentedFeb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE E. Hooper & Sons Co. porationof Maryland Baltimore, Md., a cor- Application November 23, 1934; SerialNo. 754,475 14 claims. (01; v15s- 10)` The cabs of steam locomotives areof necessity constructed with a wide opening ve or six feet high at therear to provide for passing coal from the tender to the fire-door of thefurnace and also to provide for the free use of a long hand slicer baror poker in tending the re. The cab is not only open directly to therear but at the sides back of the side Windows for free entrance andexit of the engineer and fireman or other occupant of the cab. This openconstruction of the cab results in cold weather, particularly at highspeeds, in serious hardships to the occupants of the cab, and variousattempts have been made to provide closures which will not interfereeither with firing or with entrance to and exit from the cab. 'I'heseclosures have been most generally in the form of curtains of canvas orduck or other textile or similar fabric. Such curtains have not provedsatisfactory due to the fact that in use they are soon destroyed by theaction of the gases which escape from the fire through the fire-doorduring feeding fuel to the fire, and other stoking operations, or burnedIby contact With the hot poker or hand slicer bar. Also these canvascurtains, being of relatively light material, are easily displaced bythe draughts at high speed, and

vwhen weakened by the action of the gases and burning by contact withthe poker, they are quick- Y ly torn and destroyed by the wind. Also asarranged, they do not afford the requisite protection, even when in goodcondition, and do not afford easy access to the fuel supply in thetender for presentation of the same to the fire door, and they do notprotect the interior of the cab during ring being so constructed thatthey must be thro-wn back opening the cab completely to the rush of Windincident to running even at normal speeds.

The object of the present invention is to pro- Vide a curtain which isproof against destruction or weakening by furnace gases, and alsoagainst weakening or destruction by burning, as by contact with the hotpoker or slicer bar, or in any other Way.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and locate andarrange the curtains for closing the rear of a locomotive cab as toprovide for ring without completely exposing the inside of the cab tothe outside air, and also to provide a complete enclosure at the rear ofthe cab which is eii'ective between ring intervals to exclude both thecold air from without and the hot air from the furnace, maintaining anormal temperature.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated so much of a locomotivecab equipped with protecting curtains in accordance with the inventionas is necessary to a complete understanding of the invention, and themethod of constructing,'applying and using the same.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive cab with afragment of the boiler and tender in operative relation thereto, the cabbeing equipped with the curtain of the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2, 2 in Figure 1 showing the maincurtain in elevation, the View being taken in a direction lookingforwardly.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3, 3,in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4, 4 in Figure 2.

.Figure 5 is a section on the line 5, 5 in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the cab showing the hood or rear curtainand a portion of the main curtain beyond the hood curtain.

Figure r1 is a section on the line 1, 1 in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8, 8 Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a section corresponding to the section Figure 5 showing analternative construction of curtain.

AReferring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used toindicate the same or similar parts in the different figures, all of thecurtains are preferably composed of Woven asbestos fabric which may toadvantage be of a weight of 40.7 ounces to the square yard. 'I'hisfabric is not attacked in any way by the furnace gases or prod- 30 uctsof combustion, and is highly resistive to heat, and when reinforced 1nthe manner described, it is sufficiently strong to last indefinitely.The cab l is of the usual construction, having a laterally curved sheetmetal roof or hood 5 2 which as shown is continuous with the side Walls3 which are secured at the bottom to the oor structure 4. The side Wallsare cut away at the rear substantially up to to their line of junctionwith the roof 2 providing side openings 5 for the entrance and exit ofthe occupants of the cab, and the cab has a rear opening shown in dottedlines in Figure 2 at 6 which is formed in the rear wall l of the cabwhich extends transversely substantially in the plane of the rear edges8 of the side wall 3, or the front of the side opening 5. This rearopening 5 is covered by a main curtain I0 which consists of one or morepieces of Woven asbestos fabric 9 giving a curtain which is preferably asingle integral curtain of a total area somewhat larger than the openingso as to overlap the opening providing a margin of a few inches at thetop and sides. 'I'his asbestos fabric 9 is reinforced in the 'preferredform shown by any suitable number of strips II of Vexible materal. Inthe practice of the invention up to the present time heavy cotton duckhas been used for the purpose. These strips may be two or three inchesin width or of any suitable width, being riveted as shown at I2' andsewed along their longitudinal folded edges by seams I2 extendingthroughthe duck or other material forming the'strips and through the asbestosfabric. The duck used for this Ypurpose may be treated in' any suitablemannerV to make it weatherproof and mildew proof, the cuprammoniatreatment which is known to the textile art givingra satisfactoryresult. In the practice of the invention the reinforcing strips Il ,havebeen so treated'.

'Ihe use of the rivets 'I2' in this instance is very important in thatthey hold the asbestos fabric curtain 9 and itsY respective Yreinforcingstrips II together in a positive manner irrespective of heat, moistureand acid conditions, thus Ypreventing the curtain structure and itsreinforc'` ing strips from going to pieces upon. theburning Y or rottingout of the threads. forming the seams I 2.

In the form shown there are six ofthe strips II and an additionalreinforcing strip I4 at. the

Y top, the. grommets being preferably secured near the upper ends of thestrips II, and if desired additional grommets I6 and eyes or rings I5.may `be secured at the center of reinforcing patches I'I of'treated duckat the top between the upper ends of the strips "I I. It is also ofinterest that one strip II of the strip II is located at each edge oftheasbestos fabric 9 of curtain III to provide reinforcement as to theedge portion.,

The elongated rings or eyes VI5 engage a icarrierv rod I8 atthe topwhich is passed through the rings and secured to the rear wall 'If abovetheK opening 6 at each. side, the endsl of the rod I8 being flattenedandturned downwardly or in any preferred directionproviding lugs I9which are fastened to the wall 'I, and the rod I8. is preferably curvedin a horizontal plane. at each end to space the main portion ofthe rodaway from the wall 'I to provide for the free movement of the curtain.

At the center a vertical stiffening and support-- ing rod 20 isprovided. This is enclosed between a duck orother suitable fabric strip2IV folded as shown which is sewed and riveted by rivets 2l to theasbestos fabric sheet 9 extending in a verticaldirectiomsee Fig. 4. Thisrod is removably seated as to its lower end in a. hole 22 intheVwhereupon the rod is free to beY moved in a lateral direction as thecurtain is slid to either side to open it to provide for the moving ofcoal fromV the tender to. the fire-doorY for feeding the re or anyother-reason. Y Y

It being fully understood that. the'main curtain Y Illymay be made upinto more than one piece,

such as being divided atV the center, thus: forming two separate halvesor sections each section being provided with reinforcing strips andstif- Afening means similar inr structurel to the above;

described reinforcing strips I I and the rod member 20 and itssupporting fabric strip 2I. This type of curtain structure allowing forthe sepa-v rate sections of the curtain to be moved away from each otherat the center of the opening 6, permitting variable sized openings to beformed in thev center ofthe curtain structure. The stiffening rodmembers 2li may to advantage be positioned at the sides of the curtainor curtains used tion over the rod I8 and downwardlyin a vertical planebeyond the rod as shown at 25 in Fig. 3. 'Ihe Z section or plate servesas a protection,

preventing the free entrance of air at the top Y of the curtain fromentering the cab proper, also protecting the rings I5 and the top edgeof the curtain from destructive Contact with the poker or slicer bar. Y

In Figure 1, I have shown side curtains 26 which are also of asbestosfabric withvertical reinforcing strips 21 of duck.v These are preferablytreated as are the strips II to make them waterproof and mildewr proofand otherwise weatherproof. Y,

'I'he curtain as shown is suspended on the inside of the hood on a rod28 similarly arranged to the rod I8, and the rings 29 are also similarlyarranged. Also similar rings are shown secured to patches 21 similar tothe patches II in Figure 2. The curtains 26 are suspended from theVinsideA of the hood 2 the rod 23 being secured at itsV ends to theinside of the hood above the side openings 5, sol that when expanded tonormal Y closed position, the vside curtains 26 cover and close the sideopenings 5 extending down to the oor as does the main' curtain I0. Therear portion of the cab back of the main curtain I0 isk separated orclosed oif from the Vmain, chamtogether with the rear or hood-curtain30, best f illustrated in Figure 6. It should be noted in thisVconnection that the curtains 26 are spaced inwardly from the sides ofthe cab by a distanceA shown as approximately one footand a half, seeYFig. 6. In this figure the water legs 3l which extend forwardly at eachside of the tender from the main water tank are indicated in dottedlines. The rear curtain 30 is as is shown secured to the under side ofthe roof or Y hood 2 adjacent the rear edge of this roof in a manner tobe further described. This curtain hangs vertically with its side edges'V32 substantially in contact with therear edges 33 of the side curtains26 down to a point where the curtaink has a'horizontal jag or shoulder34. This jag or shoulder presents a bottom edge 34'fextending inwardlytoward the center and of a height which brings it substantiallyincontact with the top of the water leg'3l. vImmediatelyV adjacentV theinside vertical wall ofthe water leg 3|- and at the inner end of theedge 34 the curtain 30 extends directly downwardly in a vertical line tothe bottom edge 35 which is shown as spaced some eight or ten' inchesabove the floor. This permitsY the curtain to hang freely between thewater legs and provides an opening or space at the bottom which permitsthe shov- Cil elling of Coal from the tender beneath curtain 30 withoutraising or pushing the curtain backwardly. By pushing the main curtainto one side and opening the iiredoor 36 the way is opened for feedingthe fire with coal from the tender without disturbing the rear or hoodcurtain 30 and without throwing the inside of the cab open to the freeand unchecked entrance of cold drafts from the outside assuming that thelocomotive is going at high speed during feeding and being operated incold weather. This is of great advantage to the fireman as he is thusgiven substantial protection from the weather at all times when desired.

The rear or hood curtain 30 is formed with vertical reinforcing strips31 as are the other curtains, which strips are preferably of duck whichis to the best advantage treated as already described to render itwaterproof, weatherproof and. mildew proof. 'Ihese strips like theprevious strips are riveted as shown at 31 and sewed in a folded orlapped position to the main body of the curtain, see particularly Figure'7 of the drawings which is preferably of asbestos fabric, bylongitudinal lines of stitching and rivets and the edges of the curtainare similarly reinforced with strips attached to the asbestos fabricalong the edge of the curtain. The manner of suspending the rear or hoodcurtain 3U from the hood or roof 2 is best illustrated in Fig. 8. Anangle iron 40 is secured to the under side of the hood or roof 2extending transversely thereof, adjacent the rear edge of the roof. Theangle iron has one flange 4I lying flat against the under-surface of theroof, the other flange 42 extending downwardly in a vertical direction.A supporting bar 43 is secured to the angle iron 4D on the insidesubstantially filling the angle between the flanges 4l and 42. Thissupporting bar as shown is removably secured by means of bolts 44 andnuts 45, the bolts extending downwardly through the bar and the nutsengaging the under side of the bar. The top edge of the curtain isclamped between the supporting bar 43 and the anges 4| and 42 being heldby friction incident to the tightening of the nuts 45. Any suitablemeans of securing the top edge of the curtain may be substituted for theconstruction shown. In the form illustrated the top edge of the curtainis quickly and easily removed for replacement or for other purposes andis securely held against accidental displacement. 'Ihe reinforcingstrips 31 are shown as overlying the edge of the curtain at the top'between angle iron 40 and the asbestos sheet 39.

For convenience in holding the curtain rolled when not in use straps 45are provided. These are clamped at one end between the asbestos fabric39 of which the curtain is mainly composed and the angle iron 40 beingpreferably located between the spaced strips 31 as illustrated in Fig.6. The straps 45 are provided attheir free ends with angular eyes orrings 46 which are adapted to engage projecting studs 41 which areseated in the bar 43, being arranged horizontally and having flangedouter ends 48 to prevent the displacement of the eyes 36.

When the curtain is not in use, i. e., if it is desired to leave therear of the space 26' open, the curtain 30 is rolled about its bottomedge or otherwise folded. The straps 45 are passed around the rolledcurtain and the eyes 46 are engaged with the studs 41 to support theroll.

For purposes of raising the respective side and rear curtains 26 and 30a predetermined desir` able distance from the Hoor of the cab, thesecurtains may each be respectively provided with reeng ropes 5U and 52and reeng eyelets 5l and 53, the same being used in a reeling manner forraising these curtains in a manner as above Set forth. It beingunderstood that any preferred form of reefing ropes and eyelets may beused to advantage in this instance.

The modified form of the curtain structure of the invention shownfragmentarily in Figure 9 of the drawings illustrates another from ofthis portion of the invention whereby the curtain 55 composed of aninner facing of asbestos fabric 5B may have a reinforcement 51 of awoven vegetable fabric, such as cottonduck or the like, the same beingtreated to render it immune from acid fumes, moisture and mildew in asimilar manner as set forth hereinbefore as to the reinforcement stripsIl and 31. This reinforcement 51 may be properly attached to theasbestos fabric 56 by means of seams 58 and rivets 59 and may coverlarge predetermined areas of the back face of the curtain proper or thewhole back face and area of the curtain may be completely covered andreinforced by this reinforcing fabric 51, thus allowing for unusualstrength and desirability to this type of modified form of curtain.

The operation of the invention has been quite fully described inconnection with the description of the structure. At any time, as whenthe locomotive is running, particularly in cold weather, it may bedesirable to close the rear end of the cab. For this purpose the curtainIB is extended or drawn to cover the opening 6. The side curtains 26when drawn or extended cover the side openings 5 and the rear or hoodcurtain 30 when extended or drawn closes the rear opening from one sidecurtain 26 to the other and overlying the water legs 3l and extendingdownwardly between the legs the bottom edge 30 being spaced from 6inches to a foot above the iioor, the four curtains enclosing space 26'.When it is desired to open the rear space 26' enclosed by the curtainsthe rear curtain 30 may be rolled up, the side curtains 26 pushedforwardly and collapsed or folded against the wall 1, and the maincurtain l may be gathered at either side, the center rod 20 beingreleased from the socket 22 and pushed to the side along the bar I8 orthe rod 25 may be left in position under some circumstances and thecurtain folded toward the center. Under these circumstances the area 26is thrown completely open.

When the curtains are extended as first described to cover the variousopenings and enclose the space 26 if it is desired to fire thelocomotive and at the same time to cut off the draft and prevent outsideair from entering the cab, the main curtain I0 is folded to either side.The reman standing in the space 26 removes coal from the tenderoperating his shovel beneath the bottom edge 35 of the curtain 30 andpasses it forwardly through the fire door without the necessity ofremoving the curtain 30 which affords sufficient protection against thedraft due to running speed and wind, and particularly against theentrance of air in cold weather. Between stoking operations, the cab maybe tightly closed by extending the curtain lil to cover the opening 6,the other curtains being drawn so that the engineer and fireman mayremain in comfort within the cab enclosure I3, or if desired the space26 enclosed by the curtains may be utilized for this purpose. Here theheat of the furnace is less intense and the out- Yso iside air isexcluded; Whenithe,occupants'oftheu cab desiretofenter; or ieavezthesaba-,either zofithef. curtains25- may be folded forwardly. vor#drawn-'- aside to make .the-openingy 5` passable;

Itis. of great` importance that allf-of the cur-wV tains being composed`mainly of.. wovenV asbestos; sheettfabricoriof other types of*asbestossl-'ieet' material, are proof against the gases 'which es lcape from the furnace during firingandat other times. These gases havethe effect of Yweakening and'deteriorating vegetable. or woolfabricou:srv tains which. when thus deteriorated or weakened are destroyed bythe draft. Also theVV asbestost fabric asherewith presented affords'efficient resistance toV burning by contact ywithhot -pokers'Y andsiicer bars used instoking. Whiiefasbestos' sheet and .asbestos fabricas. ordinarily used" would not be satisfactory for this purpose themanner of reinforcement as described' herein.

retains the flexibility of the curtain and gives vit' sufficient tensilestrength so that the curtains" last indefinitely, the reinforcingmaterial "being" placed on the outside of theicurtain, for protectionfrom thegases and from'contact witlf'ifhot implements used in stoking sothat durability and length of life is'in no wiseV impaired by theconditions which make the use of vegetable-fiberr fabric curtainsV forpurpose impracticable and unsatisfactory; furthen treatment of thevegetable fabric material orr duck used for 'reinforcing strips wherebyit is rendered mildew. proof and weather proof, prevents deteriorationof the Vreinforcing material due tothe exposureA to Weather for anindefinite period..

However in View of the above reference Vto asbestos being used for thecurtain proper the invention is not necessarily limitedto the use ofthis specific material alone, as it isl ullyfapel preciated a iightcotton duckmaterial may be used toadvantage in the place of the asbestosY portions of the curtain the said cotton-duck ible sheet asbestos withreinforcing strips of fab# being specially treated to renderthe samefireVV proof, mildew proof and weatherproof.

I have thus described speciicallyand in detail a locomotive cab curtainconstruction embody# ing Ythe features of the invention specifically andin detail in order that the manner of constructe ing, applying,operating and fusing the inven-vtion may be fully understood, however,the spe- "cific terms herein are used descriptively-ratherV than in alimiting sense, therscope. of the invention being dened inthe claims..

What I claim as new and desire .to securerby' Letters Patent is:

1. A'loccmotive cab curtain composed of a flexible asbestos sheet havinga reinforcement. of.` asbestos fabric consisting of vegetable fibenthe:`reinforcement being distributedrwth substantial uniformity over theentire area of'the asbestos sheet and being secured to the asbestosfabric. on the outside, the reinforcement being protected from thefurnace gases and from contact with the hot implements in stoking by theasbestos, fabric.

2. A locomotive cab curtain composed of flex-` ible asbestos fabric withreinforcing strips'of fab-e ric compose-d of vegetable fibers securedto. the. asbestos fabric on the outside.

3. A locomotive cab curtain composed of flex ric composed of bers of anorganic materiaisecured to the asbestos sheet on the outsidefthefreinforcement being protected by the asbestosi from the furnace gasesand from. contact'with.

yhot stoking implements used inthe cab.

44:-iA1ocon1'otivee calii :curtain composed: Vofrfflexf.ibleasheetfasbestos.andreinforcingistrips of vcotton duclcfspacedxapartfancladifstributed. with; K.substantialxuniforxnity' Vroverfth'enentire"A area. of the. asbestosssheetir the .-reinfo'rcementabeingsecured tov reinforcement:isiprotected"by the Vasbestos Afrom. ifurnacei gasesfan'dV 'other destructiveA agencies :onV

the-Finsidemf the cab.;` v y o 55; A-.-locomotive'cabfcurtain composedfof ilexibl'e sheet asbestos-and havingf reinforcing stripsY of'cottonduck#spaced-apart an'dfdi'stributedV sub'- stantially over thelentire-width of the-curtain and.V4

extending substantially the entire` length of thef curtainfbeinglsecured-'thereto andy located on the outsideof fthe-asbestossheetf'whereby they arew prcteetedflfromfurnace gases 'and otherdestructivef'agencie's-- on the-l inside of fthecab; thereinforcing:stripsfbeingfspecially treated and renderedl weatherproofand waterproof; y

6,- A locomotive cab curtain consistingof flex'-ible-1Woven'asbestos-sheetiand reinforcing stripsV of 'fab'riocomp'osed':if-vegetable fibers secured to theasbestos-sheet Ymaterial and locatedon the side@offtheasbestos-awayfrom thefinside of the cab;ythe'strips-exteridingn vertically 'the entire length of "fthef'curtainand being-protected from the gases-orrtheinside offthe cabi byjtheasbestos for `-su.spendingthe same at.theA top, said means.

beirigsecured'tothe'endsiof the reinforcingstrips which are located on.the 1outside` of the .asbestos sheet.; i

A locomotive 'cabl curtain ofiexible Woven asbestosandreinforcingstripsof fabric composed of organic fibers secured to theasbestos sheet` material' extendingyertically the entire length ofthe'curtaimand means ori/'the curtain Afor suspendinggthesameat'the'top, said means V.being securedtotli'een'ds of 'thereinforcingstrips, the. material composingthe reinforcing strips l beingspecially'treated 'whereby it is rendered `mild-ew proof 1 andweatherproof, 1 the reinforcing strip ybeing locatedk on the. outsdelofthe curtain.

9; The combination of a locomotive cab havnga Vrearwallwith `an.openingtheren for entrance and exitjof the ycab'occuparits and forpassing coal,

andja curtainstructure consistingof a main curtain toV .cover saidopening .andsuspended at the topto slide. sideways, the roof "of the cabextendingrearwardlybeyond said wall, andthe Ycab havingY sidewallswhichiare discontinued beneath said roof v"providing sidejopeningsforthe passage of ,the occupantsof Ithecabgjside curtains suspen'dedflover;said Jlatter openings .andjsliding inV a foreandiaftdirectionsand.arearcurtain suspendedirom. the i. rear edgepf.` the. roofand mounted tosli'de and 'foldjina lateraldirection,

theb'ottomedge .ofthe reancurtainbeing spaced upwardly` from the floorofthe` cab. .tot provide. Vfor shovellirig coal beneatl'ilthe lattermentioned iciirtaimv 10...The-combination with a locomotive cab havingra Crear Wallfwith anyopening .thereinrfor en` trance :andvexit .offtheffcabf'occupants and'for passingjcoalzof; aniram-:curtaincoveringrsaid'opening andiisuspendedfat. the :top-to sli'deiandV fold,laterally;x ,thee roof v`ofi tl'ie-'cabzv extending., lrear-nA rwardlylbeyondasaidfwall, the .cabrhavingrside walls which are discontinuedbeneath said roof providing side openings for the passage of theoccupants of the cab, side curtains suspended over said openings toslide and fold in a fore and aft direction and a rear curtain suspendedfrom the rear edge of the roof and mounted to slide and fold in alateral direction, the bottom of the rear curtain being spaced upwardlyfrom the floor of the cab to provide for shoveling coal beneath thecurtain, the rear curtain being of reduced width at the bottom to permitit to swing forwardly between the water legs of a tender which arelocated at each side.

11. A locomotive cab curtain of flexible sheet material comprisingmainly asbestos, and reinforcing strips of fabric composed of vegetablebers secured to the asbestos sheet material eX- tending vertically theentire length of the curtain, and means on the curtain for suspendingthe same at the top, said means being secured to the ends of thereinforcing strips, the material composing the reinforcing strips beingspecially treated whereby it is rendered mildew proof and weather proof,the reinforcing strips being located on the outside of each curtainwhere they are protected from destructive agencies within the cab.

12. A locomotive cab curtain of exible sheet material comprising mainlyasbestos and reinforcing strips of fabric composed of vegetable berssecured to the asbestos sheet material extending vertically andsubstantially the entire length of the curtain, the material composingthe reinforcing strips being specially treated whereby it is renderedmildew proof and weatherproof, said reinforcing strips being located onthe outside of the curtain to protect the reinforcement from destructiveagencies within the cab, said strips extending the entire length of eachcurtain in a vertical direction and having sliding members secured tothe ends of said strips at the top by which the curtain is suspended.

13. A locomotive cab curtain adapted to close the rear of a locomotivecab, the same comprising a sheet of re proof fabric with a reinforcementof vegetable ber fabric distributed with substantial uniformity over theoutside of the curtain, the curtain having means whereby it is suspendedat the top and adapted to slide laterally and a central supporting rodsimilarly suspended at the top and adapted to slide laterally, said rodbeing vertical and secured to the curtain substantially its entirelength, and serving as a central support for the curtain, the lower endof the rod being adapted to be removably seated in a socket in the floorof the cab at the bottom and removed therefrom and slid sidewise withthe curtain.

14. A locomotive cab curtain composed of flexible woven fire resistingfabric with a reinforcement of fabric composed of vegetable fiberssecured to the fire resisting fabric on the outside, both the said fireresisting fabric curtain and its reinforcement having means forrendering the same substantially free from the usual deterioratingeifects of acid fumes, moisture and mildew.

JAMES E. HOOPER.

